Investment in Banbury Bicester business awards Where will you be in 2016? Brewing with a green mind

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1 News and Opportunities in Cherwell, North Oxfordshire MOVES BUSINESS Autumn 2010 Investment in Banbury Bicester business awards Where will you be in 2016? Brewing with a green mind

2 2 Councillor Norman Bolster, portfolio holder for economic development, Cherwell District Council Welcome News for North Oxfordshire North Oxfordshire has proven itself to be resilient through the recession, thanks to the strong links within and between the public, private and social sectors. With a wide range of employment, of various sectors and sizes, underpinned by unique links to research institutions and innovation centres, the clearly welllocated Cherwell-M40 Investment Partnership continues to support all businesses, employees and investors. Whilst the UK economy faces major challenges, enterprises continue to form with the help of Oxfordshire Business Enterprises, companies are starting to expand and investors are looking at the area, with recent significant purchases in Banbury of the former SAPA aluminium works site by Standard Life, and the Origin 11 (M40) land by Albion Land. Support for employees continues through the innovative Job Clubs, now in their second year. Over 2,000 people have used its services involving, for example, Crompton Technology and Bicester Village, matching job seekers with employers and skill developers. Special support is provided for young people, ensuring the right skills and attitudes match the many opportunities to gain valuable work experience. Resilience will continue to be built through strong networks including: Bicester Business Awards, BicesterVision and the Chamber Banbury in Business Summit and Innovation Awards Kidlington Voice Markets and events Job Clubs Emerging exporting club and broadband partnership Cherwell District Council and the Cherwell M40 Investment Partnership are committed to working together with you to help you grow your business and the local economy. More help is online at: or call (01295) New home for Bicester businesses Connectivity through the Cherwell Investment Partnership (CHIP) has helped three businesses find a new home. Cherwell District Council s economic development officer, Steven Newman, highlighted the need for new premises with members of Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce. They in turn identified a possible new location, near Souldern, for the companies who were at the time trading Meet the Buyers Adam Burgess (left) and A.E Prentice staff from the Station Approach in London Road. The businesses, Burgess Reclamation, K Scaffolding Services and Prentice, a solid fuel merchant and arguably the longest surviving business in Bicester, have all set up shop in their new home, employing 50 people. The relocation also paved the way for Bicester Village and Chiltern Rail to enhance the area around Bicester Town Station. Cherwell District Council s commitment to effective engagement with the local business community continued recently with the procurement team participating in the Meet the Buyer event held at Oxford Town Hall. At this now annual event, 60 companies were given the opportunity to find out how to do business with councils, what contracts are on the work plan for the coming year and make a face-to-face sales pitch to council officers. Councillor Norman Bolster, portfolio holder for economic development at Cherwell District Council said Working with local companies is very important, especially in the current economic climate. We are fully supportive of Meet the Buyer as it gives businesses direct access to the services and goods we require and information on how to access our procurement requirements. For information on all new tenders, including the forthcoming electrical and building maintenance tender, please contact Viv Hichens, corporate strategic procurement manager on or visit

3 Investment in prime development sites in Banbury Two important commercial & industrial sites in Banbury have recently been purchased, eventually expected to be home to around 1,000 jobs. Former Aluminium Works A site comprising 30 acres on Southam Road, the historic former home of Alcan and SAPA, has been purchased by a leading long term savings and investments company. Network M40 M40 specialist Albion Land has purchased 13 acres of the Origin site, which fronts the M40, close to Junction 11. The site offers occupiers a high level of prominence, is ready for immediate bespoke development of units up to 220,000 sq ft and is particularly suitable for a high profile HQ facility. Simon Parsons, Director of Albion Land says Albion Land are delighted to have purchased such a strategic site along the M40 in Banbury. This is one of the few locations between London and Birmingham able to accommodate a large footprint. Initial occupier interest is encouraging and we look forward to an early development start. Tony Baldry MP said I think it s fantastic Standard Life is investing millions of pounds in making the Alcan site available for businesses to move into. The heritage offices at the front of the site will be retained and the remainder of the huge site will be prepared for development. Chris White, Managing Director of White Commercial acting for Kennet Properties added, We already have 2 parties expressing interest in over 300,000 sq ft of manufacturing space on Network M40 and the Origin site. Local company is Oceans apart from the rest Oceans International, the leading supplier of PE Rattan outdoor furniture, has relocated to a new substantial warehouse and distribution facility in Banbury, totalling close to 200,000 sq ft on 25 acres. The company designs, manufactures and delivers its own ranges of furniture from conception to customer delivery and the new site is perfectly situated to act as Ocean s national headquarters and distribution centre. White Commercial Surveyors has been retained by Oceans to acquire retail units nationally to add to its existing branches. The company aims to open one store every six weeks as part of its ambitious expansion plans throughout the UK. Jonathan Aylmer, Ocean s managing director, commented Our operation has seen exponential growth over the last two years, having gone from 14 staff in 2008 to close to 150 members of staff today. Chris White, managing director of White Commercial Surveyors added We have an excellent understanding of Oceans business and of the company s aggressive growth plans in light of the current economic climate and trading difficulties in the High Street and retail sector. White Commercial is now actively searching for shopping centre and prime retail locations throughout England. Chris White is a founder member of CHIP (Cherwell-M40 Investment Partnership). CHIP is a public-private partnership designed to assist investment to and within the Cherwell District. Councillor Norman Bolster, portfolio holder for economic development at Cherwell District Council, said This is a major investment by a local company and hopefully one of many to come in the future. 3

4 Where will you be in 2016? (A new vision, a new Economic Development Strategy, for Cherwell, north Oxfordshire) That is the question now facing us in north Oxfordshire as we look forward to creating a vision of an even stronger economy in Cherwell. Areas to be considered include how businesses can be created, supported and developed to provide jobs and prosperity, along with what skills are needed to underpin our global competitiveness. The existing Economic Development Strategy ( ) aspired to improve the performance of the economy, through all of our actions, and much of its long-term vision remains relevant today. However, new issues have arisen including: Recession Worklessness and deprivation Increasing global competition Productivity not growing quickly enough An underperformance in education and skills Knowledge intensive employment lagging Land and premises availability Building upon success Local Strategic Partners have responded by helping to: PROTECT (e.g working closely with businesses facing difficulties) SUPPORT (e.g opening & running Job Clubs and co-ordinating an enterprise service) LEAD RECOVERY (e.g tackling unemployment, especially young people not in education, employment or training, and by attracting new business investment). New strategic context: Our District, Our Future 2030 We need a vision that supports the Sustainable Community Strategy We need an Economic Development Strategy that fits well with other mid-term strategies What does the vision for north Oxfordshire look like? In 2030, we will have: A diverse economy, with opportunities for all, vibrant communities connected by a sense of pride, place and purpose Cherwell is not an island and decisions are often made beyond our borders. Forecasting is notoriously difficult and these issues are usually complex. Therein lies the challenge and solution: public, private and social sectors do inter-connect and create a real economy which, if better understood, could be enhanced. Those linkages can be the points at which wealth can be created and retained locally: they are fundamental to the economic resilience and competitive advantage of North Oxfordshire plc. Emerging key aims Dealing with skills and recruitment challenges Maximising competitiveness in the context of recession and recovery Strengthen relationships with training and education providers Towards a new Strategy To ensure these issues are addressed and for Cherwell to remain resilient, and become even more so, the revised economic development strategy must reflect New government and regional policy; Emerging Local Development Framework, Core Strategy and employment land reassessment; Cherwell Employers Skills needs study. 4 A single, broad vision is being created. Partners involved so far include representatives of the social sectors, individual businesses, Chambers of Commerce, corporate finance group, public sector procurers, investment partnership and delegates at the recent Business Summit

5 Bicester Business Awards-2010 From these discussions, through strong local business networks, practical ideas are already forming towards tackling locally the strategic challenges and opportunities. For example, groups are looking at opportunities for international trade and broadband enhancement, whilst activity towards addressing deprivation, job seeking and work-readiness is set to build upon recent successes. How can you get involved? You can be part of this vision, directly or through representative groups: Identify how your organisation s strategy and plans for , in relation to Cherwell district, can be included in the Economic Development Strategy and therefore be assisted by others. Consultation will continue throughout 2010 with a view to all Local Strategic Partners adopting the strategy in Jan But don t wait until then; get involved now. Contact Steven Newman Economic Development Officer Cherwell District Council steven.newman@cherwell-dc.gov.uk The celebrated Bicester Business Awards, brought together 120 business representatives at a gala dinner held at the Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa in Chesterton. Integration Technology was named the Business of the Year and the Environmental Award, jointly sponsored by Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Bicester Town Council, was awarded to Brita Water Filter Systems. The full list of winners is as follows: The Oxfordshire Economic Partnership Business of the Year: Integration Technology, Upper Heyford. Bicester Chamber of Commerce and the Wednesday Business Club Business Person of the Year: Adrian Lockwood, Integration Technology, Upper Heyford. The Chiltern Railways Small Business of the Year: Clark Howes Group, Bicester The OCVC Business Hub Training and Development Award: Clark Howes Group, Bicester. The Bicester Village Young Achiever Award: Fozia Parveen, director of Signs4Life, Bicester. The Sainsburys and Stockdale Land Employee of the Year: Tim Webb of K Scaffolding, Souldern. Bicester Town Council, Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council,The Local Government Environmental Award: Brita Water Filter Systems, Bicester. The Bicester Vision Community Initiative Award: Cooper School, Bicester. The Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa Customer Service Award: Cherwell Innovation Centre, Upper Heyford. The Business Link Start Up Company: Pea Green Physio, Caversfield. 5

6 Innovative Banbury business winners The quality of John Davis s idea shone through at the Banbury Innovation Awards final. John s device allows appliances to run at the lower end of their power consumption range, whilst also allowing saved energy to be stored in a battery so it can be reused. Having won the competition, he received cash, plus services, such as financial or legal advice to boost his idea. The North West Bicester Summit, hosted by Cherwell District Council (CDC), brought together stakeholders for initial discussions around the challenges that the growth of Bicester would bring. Issues raised included the lack of land formally identified for employment purposes, the need to look at the potential North West Bicester Summit Leading the way with Apprenticeships Cherwell District Council, together with key local businesses, has been leading the way in local apprenticeship creation. The Council has started its own apprenticeship scheme, which has employed six year olds. The apprentices started in March, taking up business administration roles and studying to NVQ level 2 with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC). Judges chairman and managing director of Gusto Games, Simon Phillips, said: John has identified a very real problem with energy that could help people at a domestic level. We never had any doubt with the product. The runner-up s prize went to Colin Hollyoake from Syresham for his easily wider implications and opportunities, the need to innovate, create change and bring about different lifestyles for residents, and the pressures on the eco facilitator P3Eco to create a genuinely innovative eco-development. It identified that a comprehensive masterplan was needed and that for this John Davies receives his award from Local MP Tony Baldry steam boiler. transportable plant pot. The other finalists were Marlan Higgins, for a video-conferencing system to deliver legal advice; Duane Ager, who invented a type of ecologically-friendly microbiological waste treatment; and Josef Tapper, who proposed a sugarfuelled industrial Organiser Bernard Goodchild said of the event that is growing year-onyear. We were delighted once again to see a large number of applications. The judges had a very difficult task. We chose five finalists and they were all outstanding. to be produced it was essential to better understand the town. The Oxfordshire Data Observatory would be asked to update its research, larger businesses in the town would be approached for discussions around becoming greener and that existing networks should be built on. 6 Alison Davies, of Cherwell s improvement team believes the council can lead the way by encouraging other local employers to support young people in the area We are investing in the future of the district s young people. We want them to work for us and we want to encourage employers across the district to set up their own apprenticeship schemes. We ll show that, not only will the successful applicants benefit from the experience, but the employer will too. Bicester Village has also employed nine young people at some of their prestigious brand stores, undertaking a retail apprenticeship. The council has also used business contacts to help OCVC recruit a further six apprentice places from local Banbury businesses. This includes several firms which have never had apprentices before. This has created a cohort of 12 apprentices in Banbury to start the NVQ course, which will be provided by OCVC at Cherwell s on-site training facilities. This reducing travel, while maintaining the professional and business-like approach to the apprenticeship.

7 Reality dawns Bicester industrial area Martin Patchett of Stimpsons Eves Surveyors takes a measured look at the situation emerging through With a new coalition government in place and the market recovering from hitting rock bottom during 2009, confidence may be slowly returning. North Oxfordshire has become the recipient of very heavy new housing targets from central government, causing a distortion of the land available for commercial uses by eating up available sites, especially around the Bicester area. On the positive side the area benefits from a diverse range of specialist, or high-tech, employment providers; medical supplies; provision of care products for the elderly; marine engines; printing and motorsport engineering. These activities are not likely to be wiped out by cheap imported goods, Brewing up a greener future especially as transportation of goods around the globe becomes more expensive and is distinctly carbon positive Commercial property, rental and freehold, prices are stable, underpinned by a lack of stock and limited new developments as a result of a new prudence applied by the banks to commercial lending. However, the lack of demand for offices, the risk of empty rates, and the comparatively unattractive returns from industrial units renting at from 5-6 per sq ft do not give developers a great incentive to venture forth into the industrial market. Consequently developers and landlords are investing in trade counter units where rentals can be between 8-15 per sq ft. Hook Norton Brewery is a modern, forward thinking business, with a proud history of working sensitively within its environment. And like many businesses it is continually striving to find cost-efficient, energy-saving alternative ways of going about its business. It is currently working with local people to help build a low carbon future using grant money, awarded through the government s Low Carbon Community Challenge. Hook Norton was one of 12 communities awarded 500,000 to adopt green technologies, and as part of this initiative the brewery has: Undertaken a Carbon Trust audit. ( for details) These help businesses plan for ways of saving energy costs and reducing their impact on the environment. Installed a new cask washer that uses less water. Reviewed more efficient ways of generating steam and have a new air compressor. Implemented double shifting production, making more efficient use of utilities. Four new projects, which appear to have survived the recession, will have a big impact on Bicester in particular: Evergreen 3 railway project Town centre redevelopment with J.Sainsburys as the anchor Ecotown development SW Bicester residential development It remains to be seen if the above will turn the town into a large dormitory, or attract more companies. A fair trade off would seem to be if central government, in exchange for satisfying housing targets, also divert a government employer into the area from London. lifespan of many years, are the most efficient way of delivering and serving beer in a pub. Moved to a range of lightweight bottles. Started reviewing more efficient distribution processes which has resulted in an investment in a new fleet of vehicles, with a smaller carbon footprint Being green is not a luxury brewery spokesman Lucy Howard comments. We will continue to strive for cost-efficient energy-saving alternative ways of going about our business. It is the social responsibility initiatives of small businesses like Hook Norton that often have the greatest impact on local communities. Hook Norton creates jobs and provides goods and services for people in smaller markets that larger companies often are not interested in serving and we will continue to do that. The company believes that taking action on the environment delivers energy cost reductions, enhances a company s reputation, motivates employees and satisfies stakeholders. Confirmed that casks, which have a 7

8 Banbury & Bicester Job Clubs supporting enterprise and employment in north Oxfordshire With over 2000 job seekers having visited the Job Clubs since Jan 2009, the results are now speaking for themselves as local residents find work or start their own businesses: Job Clubbing into self employment Diane Cogan from Clifton attended Banbury Job Club in 2009 and spoke to Gennie Mockford, an adviser to unemployed people aged over 40. Diane talked through the options for setting up a publishing consultancy, leading to a business plan which was then referred to the Oxfordshire Business Enterprises service, hosted by Cherwell District Council. Adviser Raymond Cook, a businessman who volunteers his time and expertise, went through Diane s business plan and advised her to go for it as soon as possible, subject to having up to 1000 to invest in setting-up the business (cost of website, business cards, marketing etc). service, Debbie Townsend was struggling to find a job through usual channels. However, not only did Debbie find a job through Bicester Job Club, she has since been promoted to manager and now uses Job Club to recruit her own staff! Job Club was really useful, says Debbie. It was good to be with other people in the same position, and to exchange mutual frustrations and tips over a cup of tea! Also it gave me a regular place to go and make sure I went out the house, being made redundant knocks your confidence and when you do not have a job you do not always have a cause to go out and meet people. Maintaining your social skills and meeting new people is important for confidence and interviews. It also allowed me access to recruiters from Bicester Village, get advice, see new job websites, provided access to papers I did not have at home. It was in one of these papers I found my current position. I rang one week and started the next. Have started as a sales administrator, I am now administration manager! If your business has job vacancies to advertise, contact Suzanne Kennedy on (01295) , or see The early days began slowly and inevitably working at home, isolation crept in. Diane explains: I needed to talk to people and started to attend business networking meetings publicised by Oxfordshire Business Enterprises. This got me into contact with other people who had set up or were in the process of setting up their own businesses. Each session included a short presentation on a useful business topic (such as presentation, contracts and marketing) and I found these really helpful. Useful business networks in Cherwell the business groups in north Oxfordshire are a real strength and offer a warm welcome to their meetings. Overall it took just over 6 months for Diane to set up the business and start getting contracts. I now have enough work to keep me busy pretty much full time. I love the variety of work that I am getting and the flexibility too. I can organise my own time and see much more of the children than I did when I was employed. I am working hard but I feel very motivated because I am working for myself. I am really glad that I persevered and I am very grateful for the support that I received from the people at Oxford Business Enterprises, and in particular, Lynette Riley. Oxford Business Enterprises services are free and they give advice and provide training and networking services. I couldn t have done it without them. For help in starting your own business, see Job Clubbing into work now I m the manager! After being made redundant after 20 years Banbury and District Chamber of Commerce The Colin Sanders Innovation Centre, Mewburn Road, Banbury, OX16 9PA Meets & Venue: See website for details Contact: Michelle Lewis. Tel: (01295) bcoc@banburychamber.com Website: Banbury Business Breakfast Club Meets: 1st Thursday each month 7.15 AM Venue: The Pavilion, Banbury Cricket Club, Bodicote Contact: Marie Holloway, Brethertons Tel: (01295) marieholloway@brethertons.co.uk Website: Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce c/o 122 Churchill Road, Bicester OX26 4XD Meets and Venue: Check website Contact: Dionne Sherwood. Tel: (01869) info@samwood.uk.com Website: Bicester Business Breakfast club Meets: 4th Wednesday each month AM Venue: The Littlebury Hotel, Bicester Contact: Ben Jackson Tel: (01869) ben@bbkmedia.com Website: Kidlington Voice c/o Kidlington Parish Council, Exeter Hall, Oxford Road Kidlington OX5 1AB Meets and Venue: See website Tel: (01865) Website: CHERWELL - M40 INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP Tel: chip@cherwell-dc.gov.uk